SAC: New York Hedge Fund Honcho May Face Prison Time

New York (HedgeCo.Net) – Michael Steinberg, a former portfolio manager at Steven A. Cohen’s hedge fund, SAC Capital Advisors, has been found guilty of involvement in an insider trading scheme.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said back in April, “As alleged, Michael Steinberg was another Wall Street insider who fed off a corrupt grapevine of proprietary and confidential information cultivated by other professionals who made their own rules to make money. With lightning speed in at least one case, Mr. Steinberg seized on the opportunity to cash in and tried to keep his crime quiet, as charged in the Indictment. As alleged, where once Mr. Steinberg answered only to his own rules, now he will have to answer to the rule of law, like so many others before him.”

Michael Steinberg is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and four counts of securities fraud. The conspiracy count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Each of the securities fraud counts carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $5 million or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos said, “Mr. Steinberg’s arrest is the latest in the FBI’s campaign to root out insider trading at hedge funds and expert networking firms, resulting in more than 70 arrests so far. As alleged, Mr. Steinberg was at the center of an elite criminal club, where cheating and corruption were rewarded. Research was nothing more than well-timed tips from an extensive network of well-sourced analysts. The law is clear for everyone, including Mr. Steinberg. Trading on inside information is illegal. The FBI will continue to police our markets and arrest anyone who violates the law.”

Alex Akesson
For HedgeCo.net
alex@hedgeco.net
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